Spring has finally sprung, and the 2018 wedding season is open for business. Tens of thousands of couples across the country — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle among them — will take their vows over the next few months. Whether or not it is the happiest day of their lives, it will almost certainly be one of the most expensive — the average cost has climbed to a record £27,161, according to the wedding website Hitched.

The typical bill has jumped 9.6% in a year, partly because celebrations are becoming more extravagant and lasting longer. As a result, many brides and grooms who are not on a royal budget are having to get creative with their finances.

More than 160,000 wedding loan applications were made…

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